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Best Program to Learn Catalan?

 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes Post Reply
16 messages over 2 pages: 1 2  Next >>
dagreatone2009
Newbie
United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name
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8 posts - 8 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean, Esperanto, Catalan

 
 Message 1 of 16
21 February 2010 at 7:35am | IP Logged 
Hi, everyone I am new here to this place, but I have been browsing it for a while and has
become an extremely reliable source to help my friends in their language learning
journeys. I have my own language learning journey that I need some advice and opinions
on. I am very interested in learning Catalan since I plan on studying abroad in Catalonia
this time next year. I would like to know what are some of the best resources to help me
in learning the language?
ANY advice/help/opinion will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
1 person has voted this message useful



tractor
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Norway
Joined 5213 days ago

1349 posts - 2292 votes 
Speaks: Norwegian*, English, Spanish, Catalan
Studies: French, German, Latin

 
 Message 2 of 16
21 February 2010 at 9:03am | IP Logged 
If you know Spanish or French, Assimil has courses.

There's also a course called Digui Digui. I don't know if it's available anymore.

The old Teach Yourself Catalan is quite thorough, but it didn't come with audio.

If you don't know Spanish, it's a very good idea to learn that too.
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dagreatone2009
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Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean, Esperanto, Catalan

 
 Message 3 of 16
21 February 2010 at 9:18am | IP Logged 
Thanks, I already have the 1993 Teach Yourself Catalan and its coming along pretty
useful, I'm also using Parla.cat as well. My Spanish is pretty basic, will that be enough
to use Assimil?
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tractor
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Norway
Joined 5213 days ago

1349 posts - 2292 votes 
Speaks: Norwegian*, English, Spanish, Catalan
Studies: French, German, Latin

 
 Message 4 of 16
21 February 2010 at 10:04am | IP Logged 
I haven't tried the Assimil course, so I don't know, but I think it will be difficult if your Spanish is basic. All the vocabulary will be translated to Spanish. The explanations of Catalan grammar probably focuses on the things that are different from Spanish. On the other hand, it could be an opportunity to strengthen both your Catalan and your Spanish.
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dagreatone2009
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United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 5155 days ago

8 posts - 8 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean, Esperanto, Catalan

 
 Message 5 of 16
21 February 2010 at 10:27am | IP Logged 
You do have a point on the strengthening of both Catalan and Spanish, I might give that
shot. Thanks, you've been pretty helpful on this.
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Guido
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286 posts - 582 votes 
Speaks: Spanish*, French, English, German, Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian, Catalan, Dutch, Swedish, Danish
Studies: Russian, Indonesian, Romanian, Polish, Icelandic

 
 Message 6 of 16
21 February 2010 at 10:40am | IP Logged 
1.Catalan course. The lessons are free, you just need to register.
2.Catalan grammar
3.Dictionary
4.Catalan Radio
5.TV Channel (TV3)
6.TV Channel (3cat24)

Use the first site to learn. At some point of your studies, you should try to watch TV, listen to the radio and read something (as well as write).
Enjoy the language!

Have a nice day!
Guido.-

Edited by Guido on 21 February 2010 at 10:48am

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dagreatone2009
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United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name
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8 posts - 8 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish, Korean, Esperanto, Catalan

 
 Message 7 of 16
21 February 2010 at 10:47am | IP Logged 
Thanks a ton Guido!!! Definitely will use these!!
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Cainntear
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Scotland
linguafrankly.blogsp
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4399 posts - 7687 votes 
Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic
Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh

 
 Message 8 of 16
21 February 2010 at 11:52am | IP Logged 
I wouldn't advise a Spanish->Catalan Assimil. Assimil is intended to work by using a language you know well to help you make sense of a language you don't know at all. If you try using a Spanish version of Assimil, you'll spend most of your time with your head in a Spanish dictionary and you'll never get anywhere with Catalan.

If you want to work on your Spanish alongside Catalan (and Spanish is definitely useful even in Catalunia) then I would recommend trying to borrow Michel Thomas Speak Spanish (for Beginners, Advanced and Language Booster) from a library (start with For Beginners, but Advanced and Language Booster can be done in either order). You can get through these pretty quick (if you can set aside just 1 hour a day you can get through it in under 3 weeks).

Not only will this get you familiar with most of the structure of Spanish, but a lot of what is taught in this course is stuff that is shared across the Western Romance family (the French, Spanish and Italian courses are almost identical to start off with) so a lot of the concepts introduced will be applicable to Catalan too, meaning that the explanations in the Catalan course(s) you are following will be easier to understand (because they relate to something you already know).


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